The Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 2023 general elections, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has asked Nigerians to form the coalition and opposition against the ruling All Progressives Congress APC in the 2027 general elections.
Adebayo, who spoke at the 50th birthday celebration of his wife Lillian Adebayo argued that no coalition can defeat APC except the coalition of Nigerians.
He however revealed that he would contest in the Presidential election in 2027.
Speaking, the SDP 2023 Presidential candidate said one of the mistakes made by Nigerians was not to have listened to those that spoke to them.
He said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not speak to Nigerians, therefore care less to what happens to Nigerians.
Commenting on 2027 and his ambition, he said, “I will run for 2027 and the party knows l am running and we will make them know.”
On the coalition and Social Democratic Party SDP as the vehicle, he said, “but as for the coalition we are listening to them. What we don’t want to be, we don’t want to be a getaway car for a conspiracy and robbery we did not plan.
“So, you plan something somewhere and you want to use SDP as a get away car, that is not available. So, we are talking and we are listening. If the coalition is for the good of Nigerian people SDP is available but if it is just a crime center for appointed Tinubu enemies, they should go back to Tinubu and resolve their difference there. If the reason you are in politics is to see that Nigerian people are not short changed again you can come to SDP but if you are just come to retaliate on the insult they gave to you or the promise they gave you they didn’t keep, we are not part of it.
Further, he stated, “it is what is happening in your household, in your community that should dictate your politics. Nigerian people need to know that they can be talk till the end of time. If the Nigerian people didt become the opposition themselves and they are relying on opposition who are also politicians, then they should know that it is not everybody who is an opposition that is in their side.
“So, the people of Nigeria themselves need to demand a change of government and when the sign is there the opposition that is credible will take over.
Asked if his stand is the stand of the party, he said, “This is the stand of the party. The party says all Nigerians are welcome, you come to SDP to promote our manifesto, don’t come to SDP to borrow it for a fight we are not involved in. We are a party for the Nigerian people.”
On insecurity, Adebayo advised the state governors to stop wasting the state money in equipping the Police and Department of State Services.
According to him, they don’t have authority over this agencies in terms of functions. He therefore canvassed for the need of State Police.
National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Peter Ameh, who also spoke in the sideline of the event, said a coalition to change the leadership of Nigeria is a step in the right direction.
According to him, the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu governs the country remotely.
He stated: “For me, every gathering should have a little bit of discussion about how Nigeria should move forward because the current suffering that Nigerians are expressing under this incompetent governance system is something that we must halt.”
“When Nigerians coalesce, it’s a coalition against government. There is hunger on the streets, Nigerians are depressed, and there are high tariffs on electricity and data and increases in everything. Since President Tinubu came into office, the cost of living has gone so high.
“It’s a reflection of what we are going through and a reflection of the pains Nigerians are facing. Going into 2027, as you have said, let me tell you very clearly, the coalition is good,” he stated.
Some of the politicians that attended the event were: Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Buba Galadima, SDP National Secretary, Dr. Olu Agunloye, Senator Ugochukwu Uba, former Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung and Presidential candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore.
